Suns withstand Blazers comeback, win fourth straight: By the Numbers

By Jules Tompkins | January 22, 2015 at 5:53 amUPDATED: January 22, 2015 at 6:20 am

The Phoenix Suns rode a three-game winning streak into US Airways Center Wednesday, where they were set to host the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth game of an eight-game homestand.

The heat mustered from the previous three showings could be seen early on, as the Suns jumped out to a big lead, boasting a 58-33 advantage over the Blazers at one point in the second quarter.

But a career night from Eric Bledsoe and a season-high from Isaiah Thomas was almost spoiled by a fierce Blazers’ comeback in the second half. The Lamarcus Aldridge-less Blazers clawed back behind considerable nights from Nicolas Batum, Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews, eventually grabbing a 110-105 lead with 2:20 to play.

It would be Bledsoe, himself, who would save the day for the Suns in the end, as the guard scored seven in the last 1:38 of the game to secure a 118-113 win.

Here’s a look at the win, by the numbers:

5

The Blazers led by no more than five in the game and trailed almost throughout the contest.

11

The Blazers missed 11 straight shots in the first half in a span which saw 16 of 18 missed.

13

P.J. Tucker pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds, which led all players at US Airways on Wednesday.

27

Thomas knocked down a trio of three-pointers en route to a 27-point night — his highest scoring total of the season.

33

Bledsoe stole the show, not only coming up clutch late, but recording a career-high 33 points to go along with 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals. The point guard was just 1-of-6 from three-point land despite his big scoring total.

51

As a team, the Suns hit 51 percent of their shots on Wednesday. Bledsoe, Thomas and Goran Dragic were a combined 29-of-53 from the field.

88

The Blazers’ No. 88, Batum, scored a season-high 27 points for Portland and appeared to put a dagger in the Suns with a 30-foot three-pointer when just over two minutes remained in the game.